A King County judge on Friday struck down the voter-approved $15-an-hour minimum wage for the vast majority of workers the measure aimed to help. Judge Andrea Darvas’s ruling said the recently approved measure applies to about 1,600 hotel and parking lot workers in the city of SeaTac, but that the city initiative does not have authority over 4,700 employees and contractors working within Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which is operated by the Port of Seattle. The judge said the State Legislature had given jurisdictions like the Port of Seattle exclusive sway over their operations. Proponents of the measure, which was narrowly approved by SeaTac voters in November, say they will file an expedited appeal to the State Supreme Court. The challenge to the measure is led by Alaska Airlines Group and other businesses. Washington has the nation’s highest state minimum wage at $9.19 an hour. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: December 28, 2013